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Finnish presidency commits to linking rule of law with EU funding

(19 July 2019) - Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne told the European Parliament on 17 July that his country would continue negotiations on how to link more closely the disbursement of EU funds with respect for the rule of law in member states.

Rinne presented four main priorities of the Finnish presidency: strengthening the EU’s position as a global leader in climate action; strengthening common values and the rule of law; making the EU more competitive and socially inclusive, and protecting the security of citizens comprehensively.

Jyrki Katainen, the current Finnish Commissioner, has been at the forefront of EU decision-makers seeking to link the disbursement of EU funds to member states with the respect of rule of law.

A major innovation in the next long-term EU budget proposed by the European Commission is the conditionality between EU funding and the rule of law. But two countries that have held the EU Presidency since then, Bulgaria and Romania, have voiced their own clear rejection. (EurActiv)